Chapter 37: Hero Name
The classroom buzzed with chatter as Class 1-A lounged in their seats, waiting for homeroom to start. The atmosphere was lighter than it had been in weeks—relaxed, cheerful, even a little chaotic. The Sports Festival had clearly done wonders for their popularity and morale. Phones were being passed around, videos rewatched, and social media profiles stalked as students discovered clips of their battles popping up all over the net.
Ida was also here and after everyone gave him their condolences he thanked them.
But everyone can see that he was way more quiet than usual but they tried their best to make him feel better.
Anyway as everyone was talking to each other, a certain topic caught their attention.
"Dude, did you see the clip of Harue vs Todoroki trending on HeroTube?" Kaminari asked, nudging Sero. "It's got like, two million views already!"
"I saw it last night on the news!" Hagakure chimed in. "They kept replaying that final explosion—so cool! Harue, you looked like a god in that Phoenix form!"
"Seriously, man," Kirishima added, clapping Harue on the back with a grin. "Everyone's talking about you. That whole speech at the end? Badass."
Harue sat back in his seat with his usual confident posture, arms crossed as he listened to the praise. He gave a short chuckle, voice cool as always. "Glad they liked the show."
Next to him, Mina was practically bouncing out of her seat. "Liked it? They loved it!" she grinned, looping an arm through his and leaning her head on his shoulder. "You are a national sensation."
"You're not wrong," Yaoyorozu added with a smile. "All of your matches were exceptional, but the final battle was truly something else."
"Still can't believe he defeated Bakugo so easily though," Ojiro said, wide-eyed. Throwing a jab at the blonde explosive teen.
"Tch," Bakugo scoffed from his desk near the back, arms folded, his gaze stuck on the chalkboard. "Keep running your mouths."
Before anyone could respond, the door creaked open and a familiar tired voice cut through the room like static.
"Alright, enough gossip," Aizawa said as he entered the classroom, wrapped in his usual capture scarf, hair a mess as always. "Take your seats."
The class fell silent almost instantly, all snapping to attention. Aizawa's eyes scanned the group lazily before he reached his desk and turned on the projector.
"We're doing something special today," he said, pressing a button as a slide flickered onto the screen. "You're going to decide on your hero names."
Excited gasps and murmurs erupted throughout the class.
"But before that…" Aizawa continued, silencing them again, "as I mentioned the other day, the Sports Festival also serves another purpose. Hero agencies around the country watched your performances. Based on what they saw, they submitted nominations."
He tapped again, and a list of names popped up on the screen—each student followed by a number. There was a wave of murmurs, some surprised yelps, and a few sighs of disappointment.
"Some of you got a lot of attention. Others… less so," Aizawa said without sugarcoating it. "Don't let it get to your heads—or get you down. This is just one step."
Harue leaned back as his eyes skimmed the top of the list.
Harue Dai — 8,043 nominations.
He raised an eyebrow slightly. That's close to half the active hero agencies in Japan, he thought. Not even counting the support staff or sidekicks… Interesting.
Beside him, Mina grinned ear to ear. "Eiiighht thousand? Hot damn, you're killing it!" She playfully elbowed him. "Gotta save a spot for me on your future team, flame-boy."
"Depends," Harue said with a smirk. "You think you can keep up?"
The class continued murmuring—some sulking about low numbers, others whispering in disbelief at how high Harue's was—until Aizawa spoke again.
"This next phase is about preparing you for the real world. You'll be picking your hero names today, and then we'll discuss your internships based on the nominations. These names will stick, so put some actual thought into it—"
Before he could finish, the door swung open again.
Click. Click. Click.
Every student turned at once as a curvy silhouette stepped into view, hips swaying confidently. Long, flowing hair. A commanding presence. And a very familiar chest.
"Hello, darlings~!" came a smooth, sultry voice.
The entire class froze at once, heads snapping toward the door. A few jaws dropped. Kaminari practically choked on air.
"W-Wait, that's—!" Sero stammered.
"Midnight?!" several students shouted at once, a mix of shock, awe, and a touch of panic flashing through the room.
There she was in all her glamorous, dramatic glory—Nemuri Kayama, better known as the R-Rated Hero: Midnight. Her long black hair flowed past her shoulders, her eyes half-lidded and mischievous, and her outfit… well, the less said the better for the sake of Aizawa's sanity.
Kirishima leaned over and whispered to Kaminari, "Dude, she's gonna help us pick hero names?!"
Kaminari, already pink in the face, could only nod rapidly. "Best. Class. Ever."
Midnight strutted up to the front of the room, placing a hand on her hip and giving a wink. "It's good to see such energetic young faces. Today's lesson is one of the most fun ones you'll ever have in this school~."
"Midnight will be assisting with today's activity," Aizawa added dryly from his sleeping bag in the corner. "Try not to let it distract you."
Midnight gave a light chuckle and took over. "As you've all just been told, you'll be choosing your hero names today. The names you pick might follow you throughout your entire career. Think carefully—your name is more than a label. It's your brand, your symbol, your statement to the world."
Some students nodded seriously. Others still looked dazed just from her presence.
"Let's not waste any more time," Aizawa said, already pulling out a timer. "You'll have fifteen minutes to decide on your names. Keep them appropriate—this is a school. If your name's too ridiculous or inappropriate, Midnight will veto it."
"I'm surprisingly strict~," she said with a wink.
The timer started.
Harue leaned back in his chair slightly, arms crossed as he muttered to himself, "A hero name, huh…"
His crimson eyes flickered with focus as he stared at the blank chalkboard on his desk.
He needed a name that represented what he was. What he wanted to be.
Not just heat. Not just power.
———————
Fifteen minutes passed in a flash.
One by one, the students walked to the front of the class and revealed their chosen hero names on their small chalkboards. Some were met with laughs, others with applause, and a few with skeptical glances from Aizawa.
"Creati!"
"Cellophane!"
"Chargebolt!"
"Alien Queen!"
When it was Harue's turn, the room naturally went quiet.
There was no tension. Just anticipation.
He walked to the front calmly, chalkboard in hand. He didn't hesitate. He turned it toward the class, speaking clearly, confidently:
"The Flaming Hero: Ignition."
(AN: I'm bad with names as you guys already know :[ so if you have a better one comment on this paragraph and if i find one i like i may change it )
A short silence followed before the class erupted.
"Whoa!"
"Fits perfectly!"
"Sounds so cool!"
Harue held the board up a moment longer before resting it against the desk. "It represents what I want to be," he said plainly, voice carrying. "A hero whose very presence sparks inspiration and courage."
Midnight smiled at him, nodding in approval. "Very bold, very strong. It suits you, Dai-kun. Ignition… a perfect name for someone who sets hearts ablaze."
A few girls in the class giggled. Mina gave Harue a proud thumbs-up, clearly beaming with excitement.
And with that, the classroom moved on—but Ignition was a name they wouldn't forget anytime soon.
————-
[ HARUE'S POV ]
After school ended, I handed in my form with my hero name on it—Ignition. I wasn't expecting to feel anything about it. It was just a name, right? Just something the pros and the public would shout when they saw me flying through the air.
Anyway much better than this goofball, I turn to see Bakugo walking away in a hurry.
——————
The next day came faster than expected.
I stepped off the train, suitcase in hand. My hero costume was packed neatly inside—flame-resistant fabric, updated for comfort and maximum movement. The morning sun reflected off the buildings like firelight, and a part of me wondered what kind of work they'd actually give me.
Would it be a mission? A patrol? Or just intern paperwork?
After walking for a few blocks through the city's quieter side streets, I stopped in front of a tall, gleaming skyscraper. The glass exterior caught the sunlight like polished steel. A large silver sign just above the revolving doors confirmed it:
RYUKYU HERO AGENCY.
"Right place," I muttered.
I stepped inside.
The lobby was clean, modern—lots of white tile and navy-blue accents. A massive monitor displayed highlights of past rescues and battles led by Ryukyu and her team. I recognized her immediately from the videos: strong, professional, calm even under pressure.
A few office workers in uniforms glanced at me as I walked toward the front desk.
The receptionist, a polite-looking woman with a headset, looked up. "Good morning! Are you here for the work-study intake?"
"Yeah. Harue Dai from U.A."
"Oh you're the winner of the sport festival!!"
She typed something into her terminal and smiled. "You're expected. Take the elevator to the top floor. Ryukyu will meet you there."
I nodded and stepped into the elevator. The doors started to close.
And that's when I heard it—
"Wait—hold the door!"
A flash of blue.
Before I could react, the sensor caught movement, and the elevator doors opened again.
A girl rushed in, panting slightly. She was holding a duffel bag and wearing a blazer over her uniform skirt, her long sky-blue hair tied up in a messy ponytail that bounced as she moved.
"Thanks! I thought I was gonna miss it!" she said with a bubbly grin.
"No problem" I said the girl in front of me.
Nejire Hado.